24 May 1964, Lima, Peru: Police restrain an angry football fan at the Estadio Nacional, before the stadium disaster which left over 300 dead. Photograph: Bettmann/CORBIS

Lima, May 25The Peruvian Government today decreed a seven-day period of national mourning for yesterday's football match tragedy in which 263 men, women, and children were killed, and announced it would pay all funeral expenses.

Hospital authorities are still unable to give precise figures on casualties. Some radio reports had put the number of dead at 500, while almost a thousand were injured.

Dr J. Arias, Peruvian Minister of Health, said tonight that 263 was the number of confirmed dead. The figure included three policemen. He declared Lima a "disaster region."

The period of national mourning began today. The Government decree stated that work would continue as normal but all official and public engagements would be cancelled and the national flag would be flown at half-mast.

The riot started when the crowd of 40,000 ran amuck six minutes before full time in an Olympic qualifying match between Peru and Argentina for the right to compete in the soccer finals in Tokyo.

Argentina was leading 1-0 when the Uruguayan referee disallowed an equalising goal by Peru, and an angry mob started to break down barriers and swarmed on the field. The match was abandoned.

Tear gas thrown

Hundreds of spectators were crushed and trampled on as the panic-stricken crowd charged towards the exits to escape police, tear gas, and dogs. In the stampede, children and women were thrown to the ground, but the uncontrolled mob surged on.

Some people broke down a section of the wire barrier surrounding the pitch and set fire to benches and terraces. They kicked down a wall in an attempt to invade the field to try to get at the referee. Stones, bottles, and cushions were thrown at the police and the pitch looked like a battlefield with missiles strewn everywhere.

A section of the crowd set fire to buses and cars but scattered when police rode in on horseback. Reinforcements arrived for the outnumbered stadium police and many arrests were made.

Meanwhile a mob, mostly youths, moved on across the road from the stadium, setting fire to private houses, a betting shop - which was completely destroyed - and the Goodyear tyre factory, where firemen brought the flames under control. Youths threw paper soaked in petrol into a nearby garage and broke factory and house windows. After a three-hour running battle, mounted police set up a cordon to prevent further damage.

Thousands of people, including weeping mothers and children, blocked hospital entrances, trying to discover if their loved ones were among the dead or injured. One hospital alone, Seguro del Obrero, reported 140 dead brought in.

Cars stolen

At least 100 cars were stolen by thieves who took advantage of the disorder outside the stadium. Twenty-one prisoners, some described as dangerous, escaped from Lima prison.

It was announced that Cardinal Juan Landázuri Ricketts has organised a national fund to aid the victims. Government Ministers have already subscribed one million soles (about £13,000 sterling).